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Now, let's get into today's email...

I was having a discussion with a woman the other day, and she said, “Do you ever struggle with overeating, or find it hard to stop eating”? Multiple women have asked me this, it comes up in conversation, and now I even help my clients overcome this by using a little grace!

Yes, at one point in my life, I did. I ate till my stomach hurt - which, IMO, is different than overeating, or I always finished what was on my plate, no matter what - FOMO (fear of missing out). I also would finish whole containers of ice cream, and finish whatever the other “treats” were around so that it wouldn't be in the house.

I can remember when I was growing up, my family and I would go to Ponderosa and we would all wear comfy clothes (stretchy) so that we wouldn't feel stuffed in our clothes. I would eat multiple plates of food. I surely was not hungry by plate number 4, it was a sheer greed. Or maybe it was a poverty mindset – eat it while it was available!  Mom said we had to get our monies worth, so we did. God bless our parents.

I've written on this before - how our food stories began, where they come from, the way we view food, and how it has affected our relationship with food.

My mom would also call me thick, or she would say “you sho can eat”. I could throw down on some food, I've always loved it and still do!

Let me say it straight - there's nothing wrong with being thick, curvy, skinny, bulky, strong, or anything in between. Our bodies don't need to be commented on or policed by anyone, ever.

Back to the food...

I still overeat from time to time - overeat to a bit past full, and I guess what that's okay! It's OKAY, it happens! I am not a failure; I am not perfect, no one is. I also sometimes take that last bite or two when I was already full. I'm human; I'm not perfect or a superhero!

But you know the difference between now and back then is there is no Shame, Guilt, or Ridicule ever when I overeat. I don't beat myself or punish myself with exercise or food restriction. I move on and do better at the very next opportunity!

I simply move on with GRACE. Food doesn't hold the power; we hold the power.

Food, nourishment, etc. does not hold any moral value everrrrr.

I've put in the work to build a better relationship with ALL FOOD. Not just with Broccoli, Brown Rice, or chicken - ya know, the so-called "Clean" foods.

I don't find it hard to stop eating because food is always abundantly available! Is it not? I know now that I don't have to clean my plate and I can stop when I am satisfied/full. 

I don't have or feel the need to clean my plate anymore in any setting. I used to, even into adulthood. I've cultivated a  healthy relationship with food over the years! 

Our parents tell us we should clean our plates because there are kids in Africa starving. Yes, they may be, however making a child clean their plate is not saving a starving African child. You know what is gonna save them - donation, charity, or going over to an impoverished country to give a helping hand.

So, cleaning the plate syndrome can be changed if you work through stories that you have from growing up, or the ones that you have picked up from DIET CULTURE.

A simple solution is to only put on your plate what you can eat to start. Eat that first and check-in with your hunger once you're finished. If you are still hungry, who says you can't go back for more, or order something else? Hmm?

Grace is the name of the game as you navigate through breaking down the food issues and breaking up with the diet mentality. It's work, but it can be done. Please know that it's not an overnight phenomenon.

Get a journal or whatever you like to use to record things and use my E.A.T. system to get you started! Start asking yourself questions, talk to your self, tune into your biofeedback - it's there, trust it. We have hushed it and allowed the diet stories take over!

E.A.T. stands for:

E - Evaluate: hunger levels - during your meal check-in with yourself to see how you feel (body signals), mood, energy, satisfaction factor, how you feel after eating. Think about what foods fuel, nourish, and taste good!

A - Adjust: how much food, what foods you want or don't want, give yourself permission to eat without judgment!

T: Try it out or Try Again: eat the meal - record satiety and how you feel after, etc.

So, every single meal - evaluate it, so that at the next meal you can adjust said meal(s), and you try it out - well eat that meal and keep doing it over and over! Easy is earned. Do it with Grace and Appreciation, not hate!

Remember it's all about Progress NOT Perfection!

With love, thank you for reading. I hope you have a wonderful rest of your week. I know I am, I'm on vacation in Vegas for the week!

In Strength

Xo

P.S. I'd like to invite you to a Food Freedom Strategy call. A Food Freedom call is for you if are struggling with your relationship with Food and want a better one! I'm here for you! Book your call here!

P.S.S. I want you to know you are not doomed nor do you have to be stuck in the food prison!  You are still WORTHY! You too can overcome this if it is something that you desire. I got you, if you want to do the work, so book your call!

P.S.S.S. One more thing I'd like to offer you. I have another amazing resource that I created, it's called the Food Freedom Academy Video series. I created the Food Freedom Academy for the women who are struggling with food/nutrition, so that they can start to build a better relationship with food. Grab it here!